Being Beaten By Big Play Frustrating To Mainland

Mainland football, which seemed so promising in the preseason, has developed into a disappointment, but quarterback Brian Morris can't be accused of lack of effort.

Morris passed for 258 yards last Friday night. It was 20 more yards than Lake Mary had in total offense. Still, the Bucs were stopped, 25-13.

''It's been like that all season long,'' Morris said. ''You feel bad to play hard and lose like that. It's frustrating.''

The 258 yards was Morris' career high, although he has had better efficiency. He completed 17 of 36 passes with two interceptions. He also threw a touchdown pass and scored on a 2-yard touchdown run.

It's that type of miscues by the Bucs and big plays by opposing teams that have killed Mainland's season.

''We've been letting the big play beat us,'' said Mainland Coach Ted Leasor. ''We're 3-5 and we should be 6-2. Spruce Creek beat us with the big play by a 3-0 score, DeLand beat us with the big play 7-0 and Lake Mary beat us on the big play. Lake Mary got two cheap scores, on a long pass and punt return. And we can't let that happen.''

The improved showing on offense this week was credited to the receivers finally holding on to the ball. Though there were several dropped passes, the young group is finally gaining the experience they were lacking.

With the passing game losing its effectiveness, Leasor had earlier mentioned even moving Morris to running back to take full advantage of his athletic ability. That still may be an option, especially if sophomore quarterback Nevis Ross becomes academically eligible at the end of the grading period this week.

Terry Anthony, the receiver who helped Morris gain his passing fame last year at Mainland, is now earning a name for himself at Florida State.

Vinny Testaverde and the Miami receiving corp may have dominated the passing show in the Hurricane's 41-23 victory over FSU Saturday, but Anthony didn't go unnoticed.

''I tell you who made a great catch -- Terry Anthony,'' FSU Coach Bobby Bowden said during the Sunday broadcast of The Bobby Bowden Show.''He made one of the best one-handed catches I've seen in the second quarter.''

The hosting Hawks are the top seeded team, and DeLand is second. ''I think our chances are as good as anybody's,'' said Hawks Coach Frank Holcombe. He said Lake Howell and Lake Mary are expected to turn in a good showing along with the Hawks and Bulldogs, the defending district champs.

Lake Howell and Lake Brantley open the action at 4 p.m., followed by Sanford Seminole and Lake Mary at 5:15. DeLand takes on Mainland at 6:30, and Spruce Creek and Longwood Lyman cap off the action at 7:45.

The semifinals will begin on Thursday at 5 p.m. with the finals set for 8 p.m.

DeLand edged onto the the Florida Sport Writers Association poll for the first time this year when the Bulldogs grabbed the 10th spot with a 6-1 record after an off week. It is good news for everyone except possibly the players.

''It means we've got to work 10 times as hard,'' Coach Dave Hiss said. ''We said if we made it on the poll, we'd multiply our work by whatever number we debut at. If we have done six sprints we'll do 60, if we did 10 push ups we'll do 100. Everything is multipled tenfold.

''The only problem is that it gets dark now about 6 o'clock and we might need to be here until about 9.''

Hiss said that if the Bulldogs move up in the poll, then the intensity of the practice will decrease accordingly (if they move to fifth, they do everything five times). Of course, if the Bulldogs lose Friday against Palatka they certainly would be knocked out of the poll. That would mean. . . . no, don't even think about it.

DeLand is off to its best year since 1975 when it finished 10-2.

''I think it's very nice to be there,'' Hiss said. ''It shows the efforts of the youngsters and the coaching staff have paid off. But really it doesn't mean anything. All it means is people can get themselves recognition now by whipping our butts.''

Although DeLand is having a great year, the Bulldogs haven't clinched the Class AAAAA, District 4 title yet. They will have that chance next week when they host Spruce Creek (2-5, 2-1).

DeLand will be district champs if it wins. A Spruce Creek victory would mean that the Hawks would win the title outright if Lake Mary (4-3, 2-1) loses to Longwood Lyman in the final week. If Spruce Creek wins and so does Lake Mary, there would be a tiebreaker among DeLand, Spruce Creek and Lake Mary.

Seabreeze, the favorite in AAAA-5, hopes for a rematch in the playoffs with Auburndale after losing last year, 20-17, in overtime. The Sandcrabs (6-1, 3-0) play Titusville (2-5, 2-0) Thursday, but may have already clinched the title.

Titusville may have to forfeit its two victories because of an over age player. If Titusville doesn't have to forfeit, then both districts AAAAA-4 and AAAA-5 could be represented in the playoffs by teams with 3-7 records if Spruce Creek and Titusville win just the pivotal district games remaining.